Spark plug



Feb. `9 1926.

i F. V. WINTERS SPARK PLUG 'Filed April 27, 1923 Invenr Tamm! PatentedFeb. 9, 1926.

UNITED STATES eArslvrorrice.'

:aannemer: V. wINTiiRs, oF'NnwYoRK, Nasr. y

ysrARK PLUG.

Application filed April 27,1923. Serial No. 634,973.

' which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification. v i

This invention relates to spark plugs,`and has itor its object toprovide a plug which may be manipulated for cleaning olf aecuniulationsoli carbon from the electrodes without removing the plug from an engine.

A special object ofthe invention is to pro-V r ride electrodes ofimproved construction tor spark plugs, one of which being` stationaryand the other movable, the movable electrode being` placed above thestationary so that the same may be pressed down and turned in anydirection for the purpose of dislodgl ing carbon deposits;` y

Another object is to form the lowerelectrode in such a way astoprevent-the settling and accumulation of carbon on 'the points andsurface thereof and 'for its disposal, andl also to facilitate theremoval of carbon' in the event of any deposit thereof interfering withthe proper and constant sparking ref quired-which is assured by pressingdown the upper electrodeinto contact with vthe lower electrode andturning thefsaid upper electrode in any direction, as for instance fromlett tovright or righ't to lett.

A furtherA object of the invention is to provide each of the electrodeswith a plu# rality of sparking points or branch electrodes; the numberot said points oi' branches on the upper electrode diiiering :trom thenumber of such points or branches on the lower electrode-whereby thepossibilityof the interlocking of said lpoints or branches of oneelectrode with the points of the other electrode during 'the operationof the upper electrode when operated tor cleaning both electrodes at thesame time, is eliminated. Q

Another object is to provide a plug that can be cleaned without removal,in a moment of time.V Other objects will appear as the descriptionproceeds. The invention will be first hereinafter described inconnection with the accompanying drawings, which constitute part ot'this speciication, and then more specifically defined in the claims atthe end ot the description.

In the accompanying drawings wherein similar' referencecharacters areused tedesignate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a central vertical section ofa spark plug constructedsubstantially in accordance with rny invention. Y y y Figure "2 is abottom rplanview ofthe same. w

Figure 3 is a detailed top plan view of the stationary electrode.` e YFigure 4 is a section on the line IV--IV` ot lFigure 3, and,

Figure 5 is a section on the line o-fv of Figure 3. lhe spark plug hasan outer metallic member 1 screw threaded at 2 to engage the cylinder.or head nof an internal combustion engine, (not shown) in the usualway. V"Said member 1 is internally stepped at 3 to support theV annularfla-nge or rib L of the insulating liningot' the plug. Saidlining issecured in place by a thimble 6 screwed into theupper end ofthemember 1. A gasket 7 1s placed between the lower `end of the andanothe-rwgasket 8'is preferably placed between said thimble and theupper end of said 'member 1. g 1` The upper portion of 'theinsulationpiece 5, which extends above the thimble 6, is bored at 9 to'receivey the shaft 10 of the movable electrode. Y said shaft 10 visthreaded at 11 and a disk shaped nutor adjusting means 12Vhaving aseinispherical seat is` adjustably mounted thereon to lit 'and engage anannular ledge or abutment 13, which is formed' at the junc` tion ofthebore 9 in the upperportion of the lnsulationpiece 5 and the enlargedbore or cylindrical chamber ltin the lowerportion The lower end portionof" otsaid insulation piece. Radiating branches 15 are arranged on thelower end of' the shaft 10 and `constitute thesparking points ot theupper `or movable electrode.` 4""Said. branches or pointsf15 arearranged within the lower boreor chamber V14C oit'the insula`` tionpiece 5,' the latter extending down to,`

the lower end of themember 1; v-

The shaft 10 projects for al considerable distance above the upper endof the'insulation piece 5, and its upper end is preferably squared atlhto" receive the detachable wheel 'l 17 'for' operatingthe shaft 10and-fthe electrodes arranged at the .lower endthereo't,

fitted washers 21, the lower one of which` rests on the upper end of theinsulation piece 5. Said washers-21-serve asl shownin the drawings, seeFigure 1, to bind or clamp the terminal 22 of a conductor wire`23lbetween them, by reason ofthetension lo'r ac- -tion of fspring20.henvalve 12is seated and nut 19 has been properly adjusted for therequired tension, said spring -20 also serves to seat and holdynut:12flirmly on the ledge 13 and, moreover, holds or secures thesevera-l eorelatedparts of the plugin their respective and properpositions. The radiating branches 15 of the upper electrode are spacedand securely supported in position for a proper "or desired spark gapbetween said upper and lower electrodes, by first adjusting nut 12 yonthread 11 and nut 19 on thread 1801i shaft- 10 to a proper tension. y

The lower electrode-24, which is secured by screws l tothe lower end ofthe'member 1, as best shown in `Figures 2 and v3, is substantiallyring-shaped and has fa plurality of inwardly extending points 26, prefserably yfourV in number and arranged at equal distances `apartLaroundthe ring. i Said points are segmental inform and have theirupperfaces -roundedfat 27 to Vfacilitate remov'al'of carbon when theupper electrode is manipulated vas 'hereinafter explained. f

Theradiatiinq branches-or points -15 on `the upper electrode arepreferably three in numbei', but itshould be understood that the numberof` saidbra-nehes 1521s well as the number of the points 26, may bevaried' if desired.v The number of branches 1 5 should, however, differfronr'the number 'of points 26, so that when the lower electrode isengaged `by the,upperelectrode there will be no danger of said branches15 interlock-ing with said points 2G. f

W'hen it-,isdesired to clean the spark plug or remove any Vaccumulatedcarbon from the branches 1 5 ofthe upper'electrode andv also from thepoints .26 ofthe lower electrode, the shaft 1() isdepressed by hand,pressing onwheel l17 until said. branches 15 are in contact with saidpoints: 26,;thensaid rshaft 10 and branches V15 are vrotated in eitherdif rection' i-n'order to quickly-and assuredly dislodge from both theupper vand lowerl electrode, any carbon deposits thereupon andtherefrom. lVhile *it is impossible for the branches 15 yof theyupperelectrode to become interlocked with the points 26 of the 'lowerelectrode, ysaid branches lmay reach approximately halfway downen thepose described.

rounded surfaces 27 of said points 2G, or to the pointsindicated at 28in Figure 5, whereby said branches 15 will engage and pass over aconsiderable portion ofpsaid rounded surfaces 27 of saidpoints 26, thusfacilitating the removal of the carbon therefrom, which carbon will fallthrough the openings 24 in the lower electrode between the points 2G. Itwill be understood thatthe shaft 10 is depressed against action of thespring 20, and that said shaft is rotated for cleaning thesurfaces,while the branches l5 are in Contact withthe points 26 of the lowerelectrode in order to remove the accumulations of carbon from saidbranches andy points. The hand wheel or disk 17 may be ren'iovedfrom theupper end of the shaft 10 and replaced whenever Ythe sparkingpointsrequire cleaning. If'saidwheel were permanently attached to theshaft 1() it would become too hotfor usefor the pur- I claim: f

-1. In a spark plug, the combination with a stationary electrode havinga plurality of -rad-ially arranged sparking points, ofV an axiallymovable and rotatable electrode having a different number of adiatingsparking points-for the purpose vspeciiied.

2. In aspark plug,`the'combination with a stationary electrode havingaplurality of radiating[sparking points, each being of segmental for-rn*and havingV its upper sun face rounded, ofan axially movable andradiating sparking points to coopera-te. with thoseon the stationaryelectrode. ,f Y

3. In a' spark 'plugpthe combination with a stationaryelectrode having aplurality of iadially arranged sparking points each of lsegmental formand'havingits uppervsurface rounded, of 'an aXia-lly movabley androtatable electrode having a plurality of radiating sparking points,there being a less number of points on the movable electrode than -onthe stationary electrode for the pur-; pose specified. f

4.111 a sparkplug, the combination with an axiallymovableand rotatableelectrode, aring-shaped lower` electrode having a pluf ralityvofinwardly extendingpoints arranged at equal distances Lapart around saidVring, said points being segmental .in form and having their facesrounded, and opeir ings formed therein between said rounded points forreceiving the carbon,` dislodged from thesaid rounded points bytheoperation of the axially movable and rotatable. electrode, as specified.K

In testimony whereof I have signed -my name to this specification.`

FREDERICK v. wiNTERs.

